Chinatown’s Lion Day Parade Ushers In The Chinese New Year

The Philadelphia Suns perform with a large dragon during the Lion Day Parade in Chinatown. (Credit: Cherri Gregg)

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation held its annual Lion Day Parade to help bring in the Chinese New Year.

It’s the Year of the Dragon, one of the luckiest years in the Chinese Zodiac, meant to bring in prosperity.

“People look forward to the Year of the Dragon because they see good times ahead,” says Albert, one of the Philadelphia Suns.

Dressed in bright yellow, the community group performed a dance at 10th and Race Streets that included papier-mâché lions, fire crackers and a gold-and-red dragon.

“The firecrackers are supposed to be the noisemakers that scare away the evil spirits and then we have the lions to chase them away and that’s how we bring in the New Year.”

“The costumes are incredible — they’re bright. I’m from Boston, I’m a transplant here, so I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Lisa Berman. She attended the parade with her husband before heading to the Auto Show.

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Cherri Gregg is the community affairs reporter for KYW Newsradio 1060.
She reports on a variety of public affairs and social justice related issues, producing news reports, podcasts and other materials for KYW Radio, CBS-3 TV...